Index to encourage investments

 

 

Karnataka leads in the newly launched State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL to help states to channelize investments that can eventually help the sector grow.

Launching the Index on 21 Aug 2019 in Delhi, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh said that it would incentivise rooftop solar by creating healthy competition among the States.

He encouraged all States to adopt the best practices being followed by top ranking States.

Telangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were ranked 2, 3 and 4 in the index been designed collaboratively by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY).

It was launched during the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State Power Utilities.

SARAL currently captures five key aspects:

robustness of policy framework;
implementation environment;
investment climate;
consumer experience;
business ecosystem.

It encourages each state to assess the initiatives taken so far, and what it can do to improve its solar rooftop ecosystem.

In addition, such an exercise is likely to create a more conducive environment for solar rooftop installations, encourage investments and lead to accelerated growth of the sector.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) aims to have 40 GW from grid connected solar rooftops of its 175 GW of renewable energy capacity target by 2022, of which 100 GW solar power is to be operational by March 2022.

The Indian Grid Connected Rooftop PV (GRPV) segment is slowly gaining momentum with substantial interest from entrepreneurs, developers, financial institutions, development banks, end users and government entities, said the Ministry.

“On a very positive note, rooftop solar PV has already achieved grid parity for commercial and industrial consumers and is fast becoming attractive for residential consumers as well,” it said.

To achieve rooftop solar targets, it is important to develop an ecosystem that ensures information symmetry, access to financing and clear market signals.

Thus, the MNRE has developed the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL that evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development.

SARAL is the first of its kind index to provide a comprehensive overview of state-level measures adopted to facilitate rooftop solar deployment, said MNRE.

Chairing the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State Power Utilities, Singh emphasised the need to make Power Sector sustainable and viable so as to ensure 24/7 power supply to all consumers.

The Meeting discussed various schemes and issues pertaining to the sector such as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Distribution Scheme (IPDS), UDAY, 24/7 power supply etc.

The Meeting was attended by the Secretary, Power, Shri Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, MNRE, Anand Kumar, Special Secretary, Power, Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Senior officers of the Ministry of Power & MNRE, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries (Energy) of States, CMDs & MDs of Discoms and Power Sector PSUs. fiinews.com